The Role Of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) In Central Asia In The Framework Of Security

After the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union a significantamount of attention was drawn to Central Asia by the international community,starting to regard it as not just a number of separate independent states, but as animportant strategic region in geographical, political and economic terms. In the ageof globalization Central Asia has been embraced not only by transnational economicprocesses, but also challenged by transnational crime and particularly the “three evilforces”–terrorism, separatism and extremism. However, due to the weak militarycapacity, poorly guarded borders and lack of integration among the Central Asiannations, the region has been continuously a target for various internal and externalterrorists, separatists and Islamic extremists. Besides, at the turn of the century,Central Asia has become a transit channel for intensive drug-and arms traffickingfrom Afghanistan. Moreover, all these negative developments took place in thecontext of sharply declining social, economic and insecure conditions in the countriesof the region (poverty, unemployment, border and land disputes, interethnic clashes,etc.)The aim of this paper is to examine the non-traditional security threats faced byCentral Asian states, due to the changing international context, and the role of theShanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in promoting regional security andstability. Analysis of SCO’s evolution, philosophy, structure, mechanisms andactivities will help us to understand the role of SCO in promoting security in CentralAsia. The goal of the research is to argue the vital necessity of the SCO for CentralAsian states and its increasing role as regional cooperation organization in the modernworld landscape.